In THE MONSTER MEN: HEART OF WRATH #2, available from American Mythology on September 23rd, 2020, Townsend’s sentries learn the existence of a second camp, Number 13 makes a second attempt to kidnap Virginia, and the full purpose of Lt. Arkwright’s plan is revealed.
The Details
- Written By: Mike Wolfer
- Art By: Roy Allan Martinez
- Colors By: Periya Pillai
- Letters By: Natalie Jane
- Cover Art By: Roy Allan Martinez
- Cover Price: $3.99
- Release Date: September 23, 2020
Was It Good?
Yes, it works if you like heavy exposition and info dumps that are completely satisfying. In other words, there’s not a lot of action or plot movement but you learn a lot, and that discovery is done so well it becomes its own reward.
When the two camps learn about each other, the anticipation is over and the setup for a final conflict is ready. Arkwright’s massive exposition clarifies everything about the purpose of the second camp, and you feel very clear on the morality of Arkwright’s work. Virginia’s kidnapping seems pretty straightforward as a primal reaction that will lend itself to elevating stakes in the next issue.
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Again, it’s a lot of clarification and setup, but it brings the full picture into focus, so you never feel disengaged or talked to death. In The Moon Maid: Three Keys series, we felt the heavy exposition in issue #2 was a down because it left too many questions open to be addressed in a rushed way for issue #3. Here, Wolfer handles it perfectly by covering everything that matters so the reader feels ready to head into issue #3 with both guns blazing.
The art is consistently creepy in the best way. The sky is always pitch black which lends itself to the consistent feeling of heavy atmosphere and oppression. The dark is just as scary as what waits within it. More horror and monster-based comics should follow this example.
Overall, the book looks great and the writing is one of the better examples of handling the middle issue in a 3-part series.
What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
British soldiers on patrol from Arkwright’s camp see some activity from Maxon’s camp and go to investigate. Number 13 jumps and kills a lone soldier when he separates from the rest, and the remaining group assumes whoever is in Maxon’s camp is responsible. When one of Townsend’s men finds the soldier’s hat and is suddenly surrounded by the British soldiers, chaos breaks out.
When the fight is done, one British soldier is out cold and the rest are on the run back to Arkwright’s camp to deliver the news about visitors to the island. During the ruckus, Number 13 sneaks into the camp and kidnaps Virginia.
Meanwhile, we witness a lengthy conversation between Arkwright and Vogel, the German scientist who recreated Maxon’s experiments, about their progress. Vogel has been succeeding but only through trial and error because he was never able to get the sum total of Maxon’s research. However, we learn from the last issue, he’s very close to creating man Monster Men (see our review of THE MONSTER MEN: HEART OF WRATH #1 to see what Vogel has been creating in the lab.)
Through their well-written and natural-sounding conversation, we learn Vogel is pushing for perfection in keeping with his scientific nature. He wants to create the ultimate lifeform on Earth. Arkwright disagrees and asks to have his creations’ mental capacities modified. Arkwright doesn’t want supermen that will replace humanity. He wants brutal soldiers he can control.
Without saying it, Arkwright wants a superior yet compliant army. Whether we agree or disagree on the merits of creating life (ala the same moral question raised in the original Frankenstein), there could be no good that comes from a Lieutenant working to creating an obedient army of superior killers.
Arkwright gives Vogel to eliminate the existing Monster Men they keep in the basement as soon as the new batch is proven to fit Arkwright’s needs.
Back to the Maxon camp. Townsend discovers Virginia is gone, probably kidnapped by Number 13 from the way the wall was ripped open. We conclude the issue with Virginia and Number 13 having a chat in the jungle.
How Does It End?
Number 13 is mutli-lingual. Number 13’s motives for kidnapping Virginia are almost… sweet? Townsend may have some competition in the romance department.
Final Thoughts
THE MONSTER MEN: HEART OF WRATH #2 is a strong example of how you do a middle issue the right way in a 3-part mini. A lot of questions are answered, stakes are raised, and the players are positioned for the big showdown.
Score: 9/10
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